Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-09
In

not learn how things were done. In
fact. they disdained to do things in the
common way. even the simplest duties
that fell to their lot As a consequence.
they made many blunders and had many
mishaps. very often barely escaping
with their lives.
Now. there are boys and girls that
are very wise for their years. have,
seen some who could give very clever
suggestions to older people about do
ing various things. But as rule the
clever girl Or boy has learned that bet
ter way of doing it from actual expe-
rienca that is. doing it first as other
people, older than themselves. have
shown them how to do.
Improving on the old way, not doing
things in new way, is true progress.
How fast the world shall improve
and progress from this day on. boys
and girls. is for you to determine.
But set out to tell some blunders
made by. and some mishaps that befel,
the four brothers.
They lived in the country. One day
they concluded to build play house.
They built the walls with pieces of
lumber that they had picked up around
their home. Considering the meterial
used. and the tools they had to work
with. it was very well done.
Then they found quantity of old,
but serviceable shingles, and Went to
work on the roof. Then said Mill to
his brothers:
'Boys. we will begin to-day on the
shingles from the top. or comb of the
house, and work down. By so dong
we will have foOthold on the lathing
and can work with more comfort"
Eyes; so we WILL" cried all in
chorus.
ut is a WONDER" continued Mill,
"that house builders have not adopt
ed this plan. They always begin at
the caves and work up. and have to
nail planks on AS they go up to keep
from slipping Off But then. they are
working rs their grandfathers did be-
fore them"
That's so. Mill. we will do it our
own way"
$50 we will, and do it BETTER" as
serted Soil.
'.And with more ease" added Soil.
So they put the shingles on their
own way. When everything was fin
ished tn ey placed all their things in
the new house. Mill even took his
new Sunday suit there and hung it on
the wall.
That evening came heavy shower
of rain. The boys took refuge in their
new house. To their surprise the roof
leaked SO badly that they were COM
peeled to run to their home for shelter.
getting thoroughly wet in doing so.
Mill forgot his new suit of clothes.
and left it hanging on the wall for
several days, soaking wet, and then
on Sunday morning he went to get it
he found it ruined.
But the worst of all the brothers
never sought to find out what made
the roof leak SO badly.
One day the boys went into the
woods. and seeing good-sized tree
that was dead. but still standing. Mil
said:
LET us take this tree home with us.
1t is dry, and will make good fire.
wood"
'But we have no axe to cut it down."
said Soil.
1--WE need an axe. Axe indeed!' re-
piled Mill with contempt. II will tell
you, boys. what to do. We will all climb.
up into the tree. l am the oldest and
strongest and will go first, then Will.
then Roll. and last Soil. 1 will take
hold of the tree ut the top. Then Will
will take holl of my legs. Roll will
take hold of Wills and Soil of Rolls.
In this way we can break the tree
down with our weight"
They did rs Will had suggested.
The tree bent over slightly. just far
enough so that they could not get hold
of the trunk again, but did not break.
..Iill soon tired and found that his hands
were slipping. when he cried out:
Hang on boys while take fresh
hold" When Mil attempted to move
his hands of course he let go. and the
was that they all had an
ugly fall. No bones were broken,
however, but they were pretty badly
bruised.~ p Ess. in Detroit Free
Press.